A Sicilian Romance

The deep solitude of the scene dissipated at once madame's wonder that

Julia had so long remained undiscovered, and excited surprize how she

had been able to explore a spot thus deeply sequestered; but madame

observed with extreme concern, that the countenance of Julia no longer

wore the smile of health and gaiety. Her fine features had received

the impressions not only of melancholy, but of grief. Madame sighed as

she gazed, and read too plainly the cause of the change. Julia

understood that sigh, and answered it with her tears. She pressed the

hand of madame in mournful silence to her lips, and her cheeks were

suffused with a crimson glow. At length, recovering herself, 'I have

much, my dear madam, to tell,' said she, 'and much to explain, 'ere

you will admit me again to that esteem of which I was once so justly

proud. I had no resource from misery, but in flight; and of that I

could not make you a confidant, without meanly involving you in its

disgrace.'--'Say no more, my love, on the subject,' replied madame;

'with respect to myself, I admired your conduct, and felt severely for

your situation. Rather let me hear by what means you effected your

escape, and what has since be fallen you.'--Julia paused a moment, as

if to stifle her rising emotion, and then commenced her narrative.

'You are already acquainted with the secret of that night, so fatal to

my peace. I recall the remembrance of it with an anguish which I

cannot conceal; and why should I wish its concealment, since I mourn

for one, whose noble qualities justified all my admiration, and

deserved more than my feeble praise can bestow; the idea of whom will

be the last to linger in my mind till death shuts up this painful

scene.' Her voice trembled, and she paused. After a few moments she

resumed her tale. 'I will spare myself the pain of recurring to scenes

with which you are not unacquainted, and proceed to those which more

immediately attract your interest. Caterina, my faithful servant, you

know, attended me in my confinement; to her kindness I owe my escape.

She obtained from her lover, a servant in the castle, that assistance

which gave me liberty. One night when Carlo, who had been appointed my

guard, was asleep, Nicolo crept into his chamber, and stole from him

the keys of my prison. He had previously procured a ladder of ropes.

O! I can never forget my emotions, when in the dead hour of that

night, which was meant to precede the day of my sacrifice, I heard the

door of my prison unlock, and found myself half at liberty! My

trembling limbs with difficulty supported me as I followed Caterina to

the saloon, the windows of which being low and near to the terrace,

suited our purpose. To the terrace we easily got, where Nicolo

awaited us with the rope-ladder. He fastened it to the ground; and

having climbed to the top of the parapet, quickly slided down on the

other side.